Todra Gorge: Hiking Morocco's Grand Canyon

Near the town of Tinghir in the eastern High Atlas, Todra Gorge is a series of limestone river canyons often described as Morocco's answer to a grand canyon. Its final 600 meters are the most dramatic, narrowing to as little as 10 meters wide with sheer rock walls rising up to 160 meters on either side.

Hiking the Gorge

A straightforward walk through the main section of Todra Gorge takes roughly one to two hours depending on pace and photo stops. Longer routes that continue past the narrows into nearby Berber villages or up onto the surrounding plateau can stretch to four or five hours for more serious hikers.

Rock Climbing

Todra Gorge's vertical limestone walls have made it a genuine draw for rock climbers, with hundreds of bolted routes along the canyon — it is one of the few places in Morocco where climbing tourism is well established alongside general hiking and sightseeing.

Best Time to Visit

March through May and September through November are the most comfortable months for hiking Todra Gorge, avoiding both the summer heat of the surrounding pre-Sahara region and the coldest winter mornings.

Getting There

Todra Gorge sits naturally along the route between Ouarzazate and Merzouga, which is why it appears on most multi-day desert itineraries rather than as a standalone trip. Our 3-day Sahara tour from Marrakech to Fes and 4-day Morocco desert tour from Marrakech both pass through the gorge.